African American and Hispanic women in jail: The role of adverse childhood experiences and health disparities

Background: African American and Hispanic women are incarcerated at greater rates than White women. Their risk for incarceration is linked to vulnerabilities prior victimization, child sexual abuse, exposure to violence, and adult physical and sexual abuse. These adverse childhood experiences are common pathways to social, emotional and cognitive impairments that lead to increased risk of unhealthy behaviors, violence or re-victimization, disease, disability and premature mortality, as found in the original the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Purpose: This conceptual abstract focuses on the need to replicate and extend the ACE Study among a younger, African-American and Hispanic population of women in jail. A health disparities conceptualization of women in jail will further bridge the gap between childhood trauma and negative consequences later in life. Methods: A review of the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among African American and Hispanic women in jail will be explored. Results: It is imperative to identify the prevalence of trauma among women who are incarcerated to illuminate front end issues in terms of pathways to jail and prison, what happens upon reentry, and subsequently improve mental health/ health outcomes over their lifetime. Discussion: Retrospective studies should focus on examining the prevalence adverse childhood experiences and resilience among African and Hispanic women who are incarcerated to inform the development of appropriate community level prevention, treatment and risk reduction efforts aimed at lowering the familial and economic burden of trauma and incarceration among women, as well as the related health disparities that are inherent in this population.